Vegetable Paniyaram

I love food. Darn, that is a cliche. But I am not lying and I need variety and so does my 10 year old son!  I love South Indian food and fantasize dishes beyond the uber tasty idli, dosas and upma! So driving back from work after seeing some 20-25 patients, my mind started conjuring up meal ideas for today's dinner. And a simple yet sumptuous spread was conceived- Vegetable paniyaram (will have to be instant as I didn't have fermented rice/daal batter), Sambhar (needed to use up the leftovers in the fridge, part of the reason for this meal, shhhhh nobody needs to know this though!), Cilantro coconut peanut chutney and Lemon Rice (Instant Pot to the rescue!). 

Presenting my take on the Instant vegetable paniyaram. Appe pan- I love you just as I love some of my other kitchen gadgets!

Ingredients

Coarse sooji (Rava or semolina)- 1 cup

Rice flour- 1/2 cup

Plain yogurt- 2/3rd cup

Grated carrots- 1 cup (and change!)

Finely chopped bell peppers- 1/2 of a large pepper

Finely chopped onions- 1/2 an onion

Finely chopped green chillies- 1-2 chillies

Grated ginger- 1 tbsp

Water- about 1 cup (have to adjust per consistency)

Curry leaves- 8-10

Ghee- 1 tbsp

Mustard seeds- 1 tsp

Asafetida- 1/4 tsp

Chopped cilantro

Salt to taste

Turmeric powder- 1 tsp

Baking soda- 1/2 tsp

Oil as needed to grease the Appe pan, can also use non-stick cooking spray instead. 

Makes about 20-24 Paniyarams

Recipe

In a mixing bowl add the Sooji, rice flour, yogurt, salt, turmeric and make a batter with slowly adding water as needed for a batter that is not too runny but slightly thick. 
Tadka- Heat up the ghee on a slow flame in a thick bottom pan with mustard seeds and curry leaves. When the seeds crackle, add a pinch of asafoetida followed by green chillies and chopped onions. Saute the onions for 3-4 minutes. Add the other veggies, grated ginger salt and mix everything well and turn off the stove. Mix the sauteed mixture into the batter. Add the baking soda and let the batter rest for 15-20 minutes. 

Heat the Appe pan on a medium heat and spray them with non-stick cooking spray or put a tsp of oil in each round. Place the batter in each round and cook on medium flame covered for 4-5 minutes on one side and flip to cook another 3 minutes or so on the other side. 

Serve hot with chutney/Sambhar of your choice. 

Batter

More photos- https://photos.app.goo.gl/XS79QguAytNFN5um8